Early Learning (Daycare)
EARLY LEARNING
3-5 years old
With so many demands on today’s families, parents need all the support they can get. That’s why child care at the Y is about more than looking after kids. We focus on nurturing their development by providing a safe place to learn foundational skills, develop healthy, trusting relationships, and build self-reliance. This is all accomplished through the Y values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Program Features
> Qualified teachers and assistant teachers trained in education, CPR & First Aid
> Open year round, 7:30am to 5:30pm
> Swimming lessons and other daytime YMCA programs included
> Emphasis on developing each child’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual selves
> Nutritious meals and snacks
> A schedule of activities throughout the day that balances quiet/active and
cognitive/gross motor skills
> Cognitive games (letter, shape recognition, number), singing, fingerplays, group games, stories and more
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten
The classrooms have a daily schedule that allows for activities independently, as well as whole and small group activities. The children have daily opportunities to play outside, in the gym or in the indoor play area. They have opportunities to experience field trips and guest speakers. They have scheduled snacks, activities, lunch, and horizontal time throughout the day to help keep them in a routine. Children in the preschool classrooms have a ratio of 1:10.
Curriculum
We have partnered with the SD Discovery Center (SDDC) to bring hands-on education to our program! Pulling from their Little STEAMers Preschool and other educational programs, SDDC Teaching Assistants bring fun, engaging science-based activities to the YMCA to keep your child moving forward. The SDDC incorporates STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and Montessori principles into their PreK teaching methods to give children the freedom to move, follow their interests, and operate within boundaries that include respect for themselves, others, and their environment. You can find out more about the SDDC and Little STEAMers Preschool at sd-discovery.org.
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